The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-30
THE SAILORS RETURN.

u HI OA4AV18 ~ 161I l. u xGIN .
Thankful Benson's TWO New Years
vigils.
When the irrcpvessible Americas
bOretl down a thousand feet into the
heart of Pennsylvania and extracted
fabulous quantities Of oil, and when the
ladies became content with steel stripes
for corsets instead of wllalebOne-then
one Of the greatest and most adventur.
Gus of the Industries of New England
received its deatll-blo3.
Our story relstcs to the time when
there was hustle and business in an
ancient and historic seaport, where
now may be seen rotting wharves and
tumble-down warehouses; when dozen
sea-going vessels were in the harbor
where ono is now seen; when the
staunch wh alc-ships went out on their
long voyages, and came back laden
with the wealth that made the pros
perity If the port; when sailors and
sailors families made up = large share
of tho population and the old town
really seemed to belong less to the land
than to the sea.
All this has changed; and the incl
dents We relate could hardly occur
there now. But human lives and
human hopes and fears, happiness and
misery. are much the same every.
where.
Well back from the harbor, the
wharvcs and the busy part of the town.
in that outskirt of it that was built on
the rising ground that overlooked the
town, bay and ocean, Captain Benson
had his cottage. lie was at home very
little Of the time; but when he was he
loved q place like this. commanding a
wide view of the Ocean-rim, where he
could sit at the window by the hour
and with his good glass discover the
first indication of sails approaching
the coast He was u veteran
whaler. and had for fully fifty years
pursued the business on all seas. For
the last two years he had commanded
the whale-ship 'Chevalier. On his
last voyage out he had said to his wife:
'.It'll Ike the last. Nancy. Let me go
once more to the South Pacific and fill
the old ship with oil. aud then I'll stay
here and pass the rest of my days with
you and Thankful. Jack Sturdy, my
mate, will then be master-he's . fine
fellow, Thankful; must bring him
here to see you."
Then the old captain looked from his
wife to his daughter and added the droll
remark: '.For my part I'm beginning
to think it's time 1 was better &C
quainted with you two"
He went to sea again. but he never
returned. A year later the eyes of the
wife and daughter were gladdcned by
the sight of tho "Chevalier" sailing
into the bay. But instead of him they
eagerly watched for, the mate came up,
slowly and sorrowfully. to tell them
that the captain had died of fever in
Callao, and was buried there.
John Sturdy was now captain. and
was busy enough ovcrhauling the ship.
picking his crew and making all ready
for his first voyage in command of the
ship. But it was noticed that after
every thing had been done for the wife
and daughter which the dying captain
i had requested, after their grief had
somewhat subsidized, Captain Sturdy
still climbed the hill to the cottage q
least three times week.
Presently the gossips of the neigh.
borhood began to hint t!iat Thankful
Benson could tell why he came &
often; and not more than three months
had passed since he first came wher
Mrs. Benson silenced them all with thu
plain statement:
There needn't be any mystery about
It; Thankful and Captain Sturdy arr
engaged, and will be married as soon
as a proper respect for the me mory Of
her father will allow. It'll probably
be at the end of the 'Chevalier's" mex,
voyage.
l John Sturdy was an experienced sea
man of thirty-five-fifteen years oldel
than Thankful-to whom his ship haa
been his world, and to whom i'd cas- o
love and marriage had appeare idl
myths. He met Thankful Bens on TO
the first time whom she tainted in hi
arms upon his distressing srr.Hn to tn
cottage. She had grown upon hi
fancy with every visit and his hear
vas quickly offered. With 'nef it was
eco Of iirst Lore. He was an that he
4 Girlish i,nagipl tion neg niFed- AM
i when he took the girl BY the hxnd AM
asked the widow for ha y consent sh
smiled and sighed all ct. once.
20. it's well eaough.. Thankful. " oh
| aid. III you must ma Try sailor." bu
I I WAS in hopes you wouldn't Let you
affections 30 ssafari ag-'
s.Itss the way Z our family. 20